Friday, August 13, 2010

Friday Writer's Tip: Organizing Schedule Made Easy

Because I enjoy writing in a lot of different areas, I found that sometimes I missed the dates on writing contests I wanted to enter as the paperwork was lying in my stack of to-do stuff on my desk. And sometimes I missed deadlines on magazines that used themed lists for each quarter.

I tried putting things into folders and stacking them on my desk, but that still meant I had to remember to pull out the contest folder or specific magazine folder and see what was needed that month. Plus remember assignment deadlines for a variety of magazines and devotional publications that asked me to write or I had queried.

Finally I started using a calendar. Not a desk calendar or organizer. Just a plain calender. I tear out each page (or you can print a blank one online) and start writing down contest deadlines for that month, theme list deadlines, assignment deadlines, and my own deadlines (when I want to get a chapter done, etc.) Also I add in school visits, book signings, writer meetings. And I might include notes to myself to do a Friday Writer's Tip on my blog or submit a proposal or send out emails to bookstores and schools about visits.

Beginning September 1st, try preparing a calendar for your writing. I hang it up right behind my computer so I can see it easily. I haven't forgotten a deadline in a long while.

About Me

I have been writing-to-publish for 20 years. My children's books include Crown Me!, Josh's Halloween Pumpkin, and coming out in September 2010 Wendy's Weather Warriors series. I've also done adaptation books of War of the Worlds and Journey to the Center of the Earth, due out in 2011. I also have a book for writers, The Organized Writer is a Selling Writer. I've had 1800 articles, essays, and short stories published in magazines and anthologies for kids and adults. I live in Texas with my husband, daughter, and 2 dogs (Smegol and Penny). I enjoy speaking to writers groups and school kids.